Reimagining survival under COVID-19: A micro-business perspective of navigating constant disruption in Zimbabwe

Abstract

ABSTRACT The article investigates the impact of COVID-19 on micro-business enterprises (MBEs), establishing the coping strategies used to mitigate the impact and build resilience. A practical framework for building resilience is recommended for use by the enterprises as part of contributing to the entrepreneurial revolution agenda. An online survey using Survey Monkey was used to collect data from MBEs from a national sample in Zimbabwe. Key findings from the study include overwhelming evidence of the negative financial impact of COVID-19 on the MBEs and its impact on supply chain disruption and customer service. Practical recommendations include the need for MBEs to utilize creative resourcefulness by identifying tangible and nontangible resources in their ecosystem and utilizing their learning curve experience in dealing with precious disruptions to develop coping strategies for new challenges. MBEs should invest in the well-being of their employees and communities to foster collaboration for resilience building.